Just do it

August 02, 2010|By Randy Bain

"Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says."—James 1:22

I just returned from our Annual Conference. Annual Conference is the yearly gathering of clergy and lay representatives from each United Methodist church in western Pennsylvania. Approximately 1600 of us gather at Grove City College for three days to worship, learn, debate and receive our church assignments for the upcoming year.

As I collected my thoughts, I asked myself, "What did God say to me at the conference?"Through our Bible Study teacher, the Rev. Steve Cordle, senior and founding pastor of Crossroads UM Church in Oakdale, Pa., God confirmed what I have been hearing these past months. God has been speaking to me about getting back to the basics in ministry. We are called to invite people to become followers of Jesus and then teach those who respond. The challenge I heard at Annual Conference was to obey, or in Nike terminology, "Just Do It."

Growing up in an earlier era, I learned immediate obedience. When my dad told me to do something, there was no debate or hesitation.

I simply did it and as soon as possible. My dad's patented phrase after giving an order was, "Not OK, just do it." Somehow Dad's orders always came at the end of a tirade about some stupid childhood thing I did. It appeared, at least to my dad, that I would either roll my eyes, sigh, or say "OK" in response to his correction and direction. That's when the "Not OK, just do it," edict would come. Oh yes, there was usually some physical encouragement involving his hand or foot if my response merited it.

You have probably heard the joke about the pastor who preached the same sermon four Sundays in a row. After the fourth Sunday, one of the church members asked the pastor how long he was going to preach the same sermon. The pastor replied, "Until the congregation begins practicing what they heard." Pastor Steve told a similar but more striking story. He related about a Chinese Christian meeting in a Bible Study group with five new believers.

The command from the first lesson was to go tell one other person by next week that you have become a follower of Jesus. At the second Bible Study, only two of the five obeyed. The command after the second lesson was to go tell one other person that you have become a follower of Jesus. If they did not obey, they could not come back the next week.

The book of James opens with the invitation to ask God for wisdom. But we must ask believing and not doubting (James 1:5-6). I used to think this meant to merely ask with expectancy. I now believe it means to ask for wisdom with the intention of obeying immediately. A few verses later, James writes, "Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says" (James 1:22).

Are you looking for direction? Then ask God for wisdom and just do what He commands, big or small. But don't be surprised if God tells you the same thing He has told you before, but you failed to obey. Direction and blessings come by hearing and obeying. So, just do it.

Randy Bain is the Senior Pastor of Oakland UM Church located at 1504 Bedford St. in Johnstown. Y